Chapter 114: Ruthless He Daqing

"Zhuzi, I've bought all the vegetables; the rest is up to you and He Xiao," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Fine, let me see how your skills have been these years," He Daqing said, looking at He Yuzhu.

"Okay, I'll take it," He Yuzhu replied without hesitation.

Dinner was made by He Yuzhu and He Xiao; the whole He family, Li Bin and his wife, and Li Qiang's family filled two tables in Li Qiang's small courtyard.

"Not bad, looking at the dishes, He Xiao's skill is passable; with a bit more practice, you won't be worse than your father—our He family's craft hasn't been lost," He Daqing said, pleased, looking at the dishes on the table.

"Uncle He, I raise a cup to you. Thank you for your guidance back then," Li Bin said, holding his wine cup.

"Don't mention it; back then I saw you were eager to learn and gave you a few pointers. Actually, I should be the one thanking you—I heard it from Zhuzi and them. Without you two brothers, I wouldn't know what my kids would be like today. You are benefactors of our old He family," He Daqing said leisurely.

"Uncle He, we're all family—no need for thanks back and forth. Let's drink a cup together," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Fine, you still suit my taste," He Daqing said with a smile.

Several families were happily eating when the gate of Li Qiang's small courtyard was pushed open, and Yi Zhonghai entered awkwardly.

"Old He, I heard you're back, so I came to see you," Yi Zhonghai said, his heart full of apprehension.

"Yo, Master Yi, why would you trouble yourself to come see me?" He Daqing said in a neutral tone.

"Old He, as you said, we brothers haven't seen each other in over twenty years—how are you still the same as before?" Yi Zhonghai said awkwardly.

"Old Yi, even if you didn't come looking for me, I would go find you later," He Daqing said, not wanting to beat around the bush.

"Well, we old brothers really need to have a good chat—we haven't seen each other in over twenty years," Yi Zhonghai said with a smile.

"Yeah, back then I treated you as a close brother and even entrusted my two kids to you—so what did you do?" He Daqing asked coldly.

"Back then I didn't take good care of them, letting Zhuzi and his sister suffer injustice."

"Is that neglect? You not only didn't look after them, you even embezzled the money I sent them—Yi Zhonghai, Yi Zhonghai, how could I have been so blind back then not to see you were this kind of person?" He Daqing said. Whenever he thought of He Yushui saying that He Yuzhu took her to sell scrap, he felt his heart being eaten away by Yi Zhonghai.

"Old He, don't be angry; back then I wasn't worried that Zhuzi and his sister, being young, would waste money just because they had some," Yi Zhonghai defended.

"Bullshit, they were almost starving, and even if they wasted money, that was my money—what does it have to do with you? Do you really need to be so kind?" He Daqing said, getting angrier and angrier, and launched into a tirade.

"It was my oversight," Yi Zhonghai could only grit his teeth and endure it.

"Yi Zhonghai, since you said you were worried they were young and might waste money, but now their kids are all grown up—I never saw you give them any money. If I hadn't come back, were you planning to never give them anything at all?" He Daqing asked sarcastically.

"Based on what you said, did I forget to give it later? Today I brought it all, not missing a cent—take a look," Yi Zhonghai said, pulling out a stack of bills and handing them to He Daqing.

But He Daqing didn't even lift his eyelids, just kept drinking to himself.

"Old He, I know I'm wrong about this; considering our years as neighbors, can we let this go?" Yi Zhonghai pleaded.

"You make it sound simple, but my daughter and son suffered those sins—you think a single 'it's over' lets you just turn the page?" He Daqing asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Old He, I know I was wrong; tell me what to do—I'll do it without complaint if I can," Yi Zhonghai knew that if he didn't shed some blood, he definitely wouldn't get past this.

"I won't say it; let the police station people tell you. Zhuzi can ride his bike to the station and report that someone embezzled your family's living expenses for over ten years," He Daqing said, raising his head to He Yuzhu. As the saying goes, old ginger is spicy; He Daqing didn't even mention any demands, just wanted to go through official channels—see if you, Yi Zhonghai, can still pretend.

"Second Brother, I'll ride the bike," He Yuzhu also stood up, very cooperative.

"Zhuzi, wait a moment," Yi Zhonghai said, truly panicked—if He Yuzhu went to file a report, his remaining years would likely be spent in prison.

"Old He, let's talk properly—considering our years of brotherhood. Just tell me what to do," Yi Zhonghai said, having completely softened.

"Fine, since you say that, I'll give you two options. First, go through official channels—Qiangzi is the Section Chief of Security; you can ask him how many years you'd face for this. Second, return the money to me and give me some compensation," He Daqing said, setting down his chopsticks calmly.

"I'll compensate," Yi Zhonghai immediately chose the second option; the first would be a dead end—at over sixty, with his situation he could get ten or twenty years, and whether he'd come out alive is uncertain. Only a fool would choose prison when there's a second option.

"Fine, since you're willing to compensate, let me state my terms: besides the two rooms left to you by the deaf old lady, your own two rooms where you live must also be handed over to me," He Daqing said slowly.

Li Qiang, He Yuzhu, and the others heard this and thought, "That's not right—our plan was only for the deaf old lady's two rooms; why is he also counting He Zhonghai's current rooms? He Daqing isn't an ordinary person. Though he looks listless all day, his heart is truly ruthless."

"Old He, I have no objection to giving you the deaf old lady's two rooms, but if you take my two rooms, where are my wife and I supposed to live?" Yi Zhonghai said, not expecting He Daqing to be so ruthless.

"I've worked this out for you—anyway, you have no heirs. When you die, the house will be confiscated anyway. Tomorrow, take the paperwork for these rooms with Zhuzi and Yushui to transfer ownership: the deaf old lady's rooms go to Zhuzi, yours go to Yushui. Out of our years of brotherhood, I'll let you live there rent-free. After you die, the house will belong to Yushui." He Daqing had really figured out how to trap Yi Zhonghai; what he said was correct—Yi Zhonghai has no children, so after his death the house would surely be seized; better to take it for himself than let it go to others.

"All right," Yi Zhonghai said, realizing He Daqing had schemed him to death; what He Daqing said was true—he had no heirs, and keeping the house was useless. He had originally planned for He Yuzhu to support him in old age, leaving the house to him; this situation is roughly what he expected, only the method makes him a bit uneasy.

"Fine, since you agree, leave the money with me; tomorrow go transfer the house titles, then this matter is settled—afterwards we'll still be good brothers and neighbors." He Daqing, seeing his purpose achieved, softened his attitude.

"Fine, you go ahead and eat; I won't stay longer," Yi Zhonghai said, then left Li Qiang's small courtyard, head down and spiritless.